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Are banks subject to the new Illinois law regarding signage for single-occupancy public restrooms? We do not designate our restrooms as “public,” but we do allow the public to use them on request, including non-customers. These restrooms are contemplated to be used by employees only and are not located near our public entrances. – IBA Compliance Connection

IBA Compliance Connection

Your go to source for compliance!

Are banks subject to the new Illinois law regarding signage for single-occupancy public restrooms? We do not designate our restrooms as “public,” but we do allow the public to use them on request, including non-customers. These restrooms are contemplated to be used by employees only and are not located near our public entrances.

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Yes, banks are subject to a recent amendment to the Equitable Restrooms Act requiring that “every single-occupancy restroom in a place of public accommodation or public building shall be identified as all-gender” and “outfitted with exterior signage that marks the single-occupancy restroom as a restroom and does not indicate any specific gender.”

The Equitable Restrooms Act states that “place of public accommodation” has the same meaning as it does under the Illinois Human Rights Act, which defines the term to include banks as places of public accommodation. Notably, this definition does not make a distinction between public and private restrooms in places of public accommodation. Consequently, we believe banks are required to comply with this law, including banks with single occupancy restrooms that are for employee use only.

For resources related to our guidance, please see:

  • Equitable Restrooms Act, 410 ILCS 35/25(c) (“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, every single-occupancy restroom in a place of public accommodation or public building shall be identified as all-gender and designated for use by no more than one person at a time or for family or assisted use. Each single-occupancy restroom shall be outfitted with exterior signage that marks the single-occupancy restroom as a restroom and does not indicate any specific gender.”)
  • Equitable Restrooms Act, 410 ILCS 35/25(a) (“In this Section: ‘Place of public accommodation’ has the same meaning provided in Section 5-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. ‘Single-occupancy restroom’ means a fully enclosed room, with a locking mechanism controlled by the user, containing a sink, toilet stall, and no more than one urinal.”)
  • Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/5-101(A)(6) (“Place of Public Accommodation. ‘Place of public accommodation’ includes, but is not limited to: . . . a . . . bank.”)